Fun with 2 Jeeps
 

Hey jeepers!
My name is Kyle I'm a Manitoba Forest Firefighter, welcome to my Jeep build. I have had a 98 Jeep XJ sport 2.5L 4cyl for almost 4 years. The Jeep has 226000km, 4.10 gears, monroe max air shocks, c8.25, speaker system, np231, factory skid package. This jeep was owned by Ontario Ministry of Transportation in the Toronto area until I purchased it here in Manitoba with 140000km on it.
I am also the pround new owner of a 1990 Jeep Cherokee Wagoneer Limited. Power everything compared to the 98 with the bare minimum. Renix system closed loop cooling system. Np242, 235x75x15, 4dr, Everything on this jeep is pretty much factory parts, Still has the rubber flap/guard underneath the engine. 4.0L 6cyl, sunroof, barely any rust. This jeep lived in B.C. until 2005, hence the little amount of rust. It has 214000km.

A few more pics of the 1998.

pics of the 1990

In the day I have owned the 1990 I have put almost 50 km on it. I have found a few things that need fixing and that I have questions about. The oil gauge seems erratic it seems that this is a common problem among newer xjs (read some threads on 97's) but what about older xjs. What gears does it have (has a hitch so not sure if complete factory tow package)? The dash lights up only when the knob is turned all the way. The lights for the transmission and transfer case shift panels dont work ( have yet to check for broken fuse, hopefully likely suspect). Has a dana 35 :thumbdown:

I've been reading this forum for a while now, I want to thank any of those who may have helped me in the past. My plan is to swap the axles, factory skid package, newly painted bumpers and front d-rings from the 98 to the 90. Do you guys see any problems with this? Would I be able to put the axles from the 90 onto the 98 without any problems. Plan to do a 2-3" makeshift lift in order to run 31's with bumpstopping. By make shift I was thinking either upcountry coils from a v8 grandcherokee or spacer. For the rear I was thinking of a lift shackle, barpin eliminators and possibly swapping out the new max-air shocks from the 98.

Nice, grats on the purchase! Pressure sending unit is common failure in all model years with the 4.0.

Since you have a '90 Chrysler likely won't have build information for it, for gear info you may have to pop open the diff covers and count teeth. But if you plan on swapping axles anyway just go for it. I think you'll need a new driveshaft though (C8.25 has a longer pinion, but the AX5 is shorter than an AW4 as well. I don't know if they cancel each other out). Does the hitch say Jeep on it?

Definitely looking forward to this build!

canada_man - I purchased a Cherokee Laredo new in 1990. The only input my wife had was ... "DON'T buy one that has wood on the sides". Of course a Wagoneer immediately shot to the top of my list ... just to give her a hard time. ;)

I thoroughly enjoyed that vehicle for the 6 or so years that I had it. I recall that it was the first year for ABS brakes. In the end that's what did it in. The last brake job I had done was over $3,000 which amounted to about 10% of the cost of the vehicle. :thumbdown:

I now have a 95 2 door that is similar to yours. Very basic model ... power nothing.

Ya I definitely like the wood paneling. I like the 98 for its simplicity (little 4 banger has served me well), but I also like the 90 wagoneer for its 6cyl and air-contitioning lol.
I am going to look at swappin the bumper from the 98 to the 90 since I just sandblasted and painted the 98 ones. Ill keep everything else about the grill and trim original. (Will I run into any problems swapping bumpers?

And yes I believe it may be a bad oil pressure sending unit, my problem seems to be the same as this guys.

The 90 seems to take a little long to start and I am experiencing a rough idle once the motor has warmed up. I have read a few threads that seem to point to this being an injector issue (for now I'm going to start with the basic stuff, oil change, air filter, owner said he just put new plugs in but I want to give it a good tune-up, wires, distibrutor cap, rotor. Change transmission and tc fluid (maybe diffs). The 90 is getting thorough inspection by a local shop on monday. I hope to have many pics and possible some videos to add to this build for you guys.

No I could not find a jeep sticker anywhere on the hitch so I am assuming I dont have factory towpackage and therefore I do have 3.55's. This correct?
Local shop checked out the jeep they really liked it. lol. 32.5 PSI at the fuel rail. 1/105, 2/110, 3/110, 4/95, 5/115, 6/100. Compression seems a little low across the board so I'm hoping to get that up with just some basic maintenance and a good tune-up. How do these results compare?
Leaky valve cover (nothing too severe), leaky rear shock and rear diff breather.

Yeah 3.55:1 is the most likely case. I'm not totally sure about Renix fuel pressure, I've read that it can vary based on the applied vacuum. I think it's supposed to be around 39 PSI though.

Stock 4.0L compression numbers are 120 PSI, no more than 30 PSI spread across all 6. You're still within spec but it sure looks high mileage from here. Could be carbon keeping valves open though. Some tuning up and cleaning would be in good order. You can also do a wet compression test whereby you spoon a bit of oil into the cyl before cranking it - the oil will help seal the rings and help you determine if the compression issue is rings or valves.

LEAKY VALVE COVER ON A 4.0?! SAY IT ISN'T SO!!! lol

Gathering parts!

I really like the Wagoneer!! Check my signature, I've got a waggie also. Looking forward to more updates.

Still new to the jeep world but learning lots these past few months. The 98 is on blocks without axles and the 90 has been receiving the grand treatment. 4.5 zone lift with nitro shocks, c8.25 and d30 both with 4.10 gears, jks quick discos and an re sye that I'm still working on.

Looks good. I would've swapped the engine and tranny from the 90 though and lifted the 2 door.

The 2dr is a rust bucket and the 90 is almost rust free. For now I'm building the wagoneer.

Well I believe I got the re hack n tap finalized, I originally left 1/4 more shaft then the instruction says to mainly because I didn't want to ignite my tape. Wasn't my brightest moment. Anyways now I've got it bang on and only had it around the block but doesn't seem to be leaking anymore. Before the cut I had maybe a half inch of slip yoke, after the cut maybe an eighth, so I went shopping hoping to find the longer grand cherokee driveshaft. Finally came across one only an inch longer. I believe it came from a 97 grand cherokee with the 4.0. On Sunday I'll have time to put the front driveshaft back in the front and the new grand in the rear. It'll be the first time since lifting that I will have both. Looking forward to it!